Ayaneo, a Chinese portable console developer, has just announced its dual-screen handheld system, the Ayaneo Flip DS. As the name implies, the console is heavily inspired by the Nintendo DS, as it looks more or less like a modern take on the classic handheld.
The tech company has been hard at work releasing portable devices left and right. Most recently, the boutique launched the Ayaneo SLIDE to compete with the Steam Deck. Ayaneo has been at it for years releasing handheld gaming PCs, but now the company turns its focus to the form factor of Nintendo's best-selling hardware.
Ayaneo recently announced its latest handheld console, the Ayaneo Flip DS. The form factor obviously takes inspiration from the Nintendo DS, as does its name. The console features a 7-inch 120HZ top screen as well as a second screen on the bottom portion of the clamshell design; however, little is known about the bottom display at this point. Additionally, Ayaneo announced the Flip KB which features a keyboard as opposed to a second screen. What has fans excited about the hardware is the emulation possibilities, as many great games are still trapped on the DS.
Again, the specs and features of the device's second screen are still unknown, so the jury is still out on whether it will feature a touch-screen display. Another unknown is the price, but both models will be powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U – the same chip featured on other top gaming PC handhelds like the Ayeno 2s.
Thanks to Nintendo Switch Online, many nostalgic games from classic consoles are available to play on the Switch. Still, the Nintendo DS library has yet to make an appearance, and given the handheld's unique design, it may never be featured on the service. The system was made available as a virtual console on the Nintendo Wii U eShop, but unfortunately, Nintendo closed the 3DS and Wii U eShops earlier this year.
A recent study has shown that few classic games are commercially available, and the Nintendo DS library is a prime example of nostalgic titles lost to time. Perhaps that's why Ayaneo has decided to take inspiration from the iconic form factor. At the moment, the only way to properly play Nintendo DS games is on the original hardware or the 3DS family of consoles. With tech companies like Analogue making headlines for creating the Pocket or its newest 4K Nintendo 64 console, it appears as though the market is ready for a new way to play classic DS games.
The Ayaneo Flip DS is currently in development.
Source: The Verge